Sharpener for mechanical pencils



Dec. 5, 1950 J. L. WORDEN SHARPENER FOR MECHANICAL PENCILS Filed Sept.16, 1947 INVENTOR. JOHN L. WORDE/V BY M 4% AGr I L T Patented Dec. 5,1950 UNITED STATES ATEN'l' OFFICE SHARPENER FOR MEGHANIGAL PENOIIJS JohnL. Worden, SanDiegmCalif. Application September 16, 1947, "SeriallNo.774,285

'2Claims. 1

My invention relates to a sharpener for mechanical pencilleads and theobjects of :my invention are:

First, to provide a sharpener of this class which is very useful tobookkeepers, accountants and other persons who require sharp pencils formaking neat and accurate entries in books or the like.

Second, to provide a sharpener of this class which greatly improves theoperations of a mechanical pencil wherein the lead of the pencil ismechanically fed toward the writing end thereof, and is sharpened inconnection with the mechanical pencil affording great convenience to theoperator thereof and promoting accurate writing of the pencil due to thesharpened condition of the lead therein.

Third, to provide a sharpener of this class which may be telescopicallymounted upon a mechanical pencil and extended slightly beyond the endthereof for reciprocal operation in sharpening the lead extending from amechanical pencil.

Fourth, to provide a sharpener of this class which may be permanentlyattached to a mechanical pencil and which is very compact, easy tooperate, and which sharpens lead very uniformly.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, myinvention consists of certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will behereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in theappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and tothe characters of reference thereon, forming a part of this applicationin which;

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my sharpener for mechanicalpencil leads shown in connection with a mechanical pencil illustratedfragmentarily; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken from theline 22 of Fig. l and Fig. 3 is an end view of my sharpener formechanical pencil leads taken from the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portionsthroughout the several views of the drawing.

In the construction of my sharpener for mechanical pencil leads, I haveprovided a uni tary member as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings which isprovided with a straight, hollow cylindrical portion I having a slot lain the sidewall thereof through which the pin 2 extends and this pin 2is connected to the pencil 3 which is a conventional mechanical leadpencil. The slot I a is sufficiently long to permit considerablereciprocation of the hollow cylindrical portion 1 relatively to the pin2. The forward end of this hollow cylindrical portion I converges into aplurality of resilient fingers which are turned in- These lends3411:1818 radially disposed from each ather as lShOWIl in Fig. .3 of thedrawings .and

substantially surround the pencil lead A and engage the same so thatreciprocation of the cylindrical member I causes the pencil lead A to beshaved by the ends 4a of the fingers 4. The resilient character of thefingers 4 provides squeezing tension on the lead A at all times so thatreciprocation of the cylindrical member I automatically sharpens thelead.

It will be here noted that the normally rear end 5 of the hollowcylindrical member I is provided with an annular flared portion adaptedto be engaged by the fingers of a person's hand for actuation of thehollow cylindrical member I longitudinally of the pencil 3. It will behere noted that the hollow cylindrical member I may be actuated in anymanner as desired and is slidably movable longitudinally of the pencil 3and may be adapted to various shapes of pencils or the tips thereof asdesired.

The operation of my sharpener for mechanical pencil leads issubstantially as follows: When the hollow cylindrical member I is in theposition as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the flared annular portion5 of the hollow cylindrical member I may be engaged by the fingers of aperson's hand and the hollow cylindrical member I may be operated in areciprocal manner on the pencil 3 until the sharp ends 4a in theirresilient engaged relation with the lead A shave said lead to asharpened condition as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The pin 2 inconnection with the pencil 3 prevents accidental removal of the hollowcylindrical member I therefrom and maintains said hollow cylindricalmember I in certain fixed position against rotation about the axis ofthe pencil 3.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combinationand arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited tothis particular construction, combination and arrangement but desire toinclude in the scope of my invention, the construction, combination andarrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sharpener for mechanical pencil leads of the class described,the combination of a mechanical pencil having a lead projectingtherefrom and a plurality of opposed resilient fingers reciprocallymounted longitudinally of the axis of said mechanical pencil havingsharp inwardly directed extremities, engageable with the outer side ofsaid lead, the ends of resilient fingers being sharp and disposedinwardly toward the axis of said lead, a hollow cylindrical portionconnected to said fingers telescopically connected with a portion ofmechanical pencil, and stop means in connection with said mechanicalpencil for limitingthe longitudinal play of said resilient fingers onsaid lead'and said pencil.

2. In a sharpener for mechanical pencil leads of the class described,the combination of a mechanical pencil having a lead projectingtherefrom and a plurality of opposed resilient fingers reciprocallymounted longitudinally of the axis of saidmechanical pencil having sharpinwardly directed extremities, engageable with the outer side of saidlead, the ends; of resilient fingers being sharp and disposed inwardlytoward the axis of said lead, a hollow cylindrical portionconnected tosaid finger s'telescopically connected with a portion of said mechanicalpencil, f and stop means in connection with said mechan- REFERENCESCITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 465,057 Foley Dec. 15, 1891484,071 Walker Oct. 11, 1892 642,914 Mitchell Feb. 6, 1900 2,432,376Brady Dec. 9, 1947

